Unit 8: Communication Activities
I. Short Skits - The Art of Saying "No"
Here are three situations in which one person politely refuses an invitation from a friend.
Look at the patterns below and the sample skit, then practise each skit.
Expressions Used to Persuade Expressions Used to Refuse Why not try __________ just once?
Don't you want to ______________?
Are you afraid of _____ - like a baby?
Try it , then if you don't like it you can quit!
No thanks. I'm not interested.
I really have no need for that.
I have absolutely no desire to ___.
I said "no". Please respect my choice!
Sample Skit
A: Hey - I got some special diet pills that will help you lose weight.
B: No thanks, I'd rather do that naturally.
A: Don't you want a thin body?
B: Not from pills. I'd rather be overweight than depend on pills.
A: Are you afraid of a small pill? What are you - a baby?
B: I said "no". Please respect my choice.
A: I'm just trying to help you. I think pills are the best way for you to loose weight.
B: You're not listening to me. I said "no" quite clearly. Now, let's change the subject!
II. Extended Role Plays (in pairs)
- Situation 1
Student A - Offer a cigarette to a friend.
Student B - Politely refuse and recommend your friend stop smoking.
- Situation 2
Student A - Offer your friend a glass of whiskey.
Student B - Politely refuse, then ask for a glass of olong tea.
- Situation 3
Student A - An exam is coming up and you and your friend are trying to stay awake late at night to study. Offer some betel nut to your friend.
Student B - Politely refuse. Recommend short aerobic exercise as best way to awake. Also suggest your friend quit using betel nut.
Situation 1
Student A - Your friend has had a 3-4 beers and is about to drive home. You believe he/she should take a taxi or stay at your place. Stop your friend from driving until he/she is completely sober.
Student B - You have had 3-4 beers in 2 hours and feel fine. You are confident in your ability to get back home safely. You have a light "buzz", but can walk and talk. You don't want to pay for a taxi.
Situation 2
Student A - You smoke 5-6 cigarettes a day and don't think it's a problem. You are confident you can quit smoking any time you want, and enjoy smoking now.
Student B - You want to encourage your friend to quit smoking. He/she stinks from the tobacco and can't do well in sports. Besides, your friend doesn't have much money and you want him/her to save it for better things.
Situation 3
Student A - Your best friend pigs out on food all the time. You really like him/her and believe your friend should get some help to lose weight.
Student B - You already know that you're fat and don't like it when people remind you. Ask your friend to mind his/her own business. Remind your friend that your body shape is not his/her problem, then change the topic of discussion.
III. Dealing with Misinformation
There is a lot of misinformation about alcohol, drugs, and addictions.
What is the best way to deal with incorrect (or partly correct) information?
Study the patterns below and the same dialog,
then respond to the following incorrect information.
Sample Phrases
That's not entirely true.
I'm afraid you don't have your facts straight.
That information is probably incorrect.
That is a common misconception. The fact is . . .
Sample Skit
A: Smoking just a few cigarettes a day is not so bad.
B: That isn't quite true.
A: What do you mean?
B: Tobacco smoke contains many different chemicals which damage the lungs.
A: Yeah, but you get that from breathing the air in Taipei anyway.
B: So why put even more garbage in your lungs?
A: Hmm. You have a point.
IV. The Power of Comparative Metaphors
- Alcoholics lack will power.
- Alcoholics need to drink every day.
- Betel nut is just like chewing gum.
- Coca-Cola contains cocaine.
- Coffee is not really addictive.
- If you're drunk, coffee will help you get sober.
- Most drug addicts are homeless.
- The children of alcoholics will become alcoholic.
The English language has countless metaphors about alcohol and drugs.
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another.
Compare the following words in terms of metaphor, using this pattern -
_________ is/are like __________ because ________________.
Example A: Friendship is like wine because it gets better with age.
Example B: Power is like a drug because impairs clear thinking.
- Alcoholics - fish .
- Cigarettes - smoke stacks
- Drug addicts - garbage cans
- Life - coffee
- Love - chocolate
- Mind - doughnut
- Marriage - gambling
- Money - opium
- Wine - love.
- _________ - __________
